89: Strategic Personal Planning for Your Leadership Presence in 2026
In this episode of the Style and Strategy Podcast, Sonya, a personal brand and style coach, emphasizes the importance of planning for personal growth and leadership presence before the New Year chaos begins. She discusses the tendency to prioritize others' needs over personal evolution and shares two diagnostic exercises to help listeners align their brand and style with their future goals. Sonya's exercises aim to identify key areas for improvement and establish a clear vision for 2026. The episode encourages listeners to take proactive steps in December to start the new year with a solid, personalized plan for success.
Key Takeaways:
- Don’t try to overhaul everything, focus on strategic refinement in the areas that matter most.
- Identify your two to three lowest-scoring areas and make them your focus for 2026.
- Define three to five words that describe the leadership presence you want to embody in 2026.
- Choose one concrete action you can take in the next seven days to align your style and brand with your vision.
- Take time to plan now, before the new year and holiday rush, so you enter 2026 with clarity and momentum.
- Your brand, style, and leadership identity should evolve with you, intentional planning and action are key to meaningful change.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and December Reflections
00:34 The Importance of Personal Planning
02:09 Welcome to the Style and Strategy Podcast
02:56 Why January Planning Fails
04:07 Diagnostic Exercises for 2026
06:43 The Brand and Style Life Wheel
13:19 Vision Exercise for 2026
16:53 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
Links and Resources:
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